Are Royal suites worth the extra $$?

[jessrosa]

I have booked a Royal Suite on the Legend for the end of this year. Do u get any other perks than the standard that all suites get. Also any news yet on the new suite perks which were coming out late spring???

[riclop]

We don't spend a lot of time in our room so we rather cruise more and not spend all that $$$ on a suite.

[Jasp 0401]

I have booked a Royal Suite on the Legend for the end of this year. Do u get any other perks than the standard that all suites get. Also any news yet on the new suite perks which were coming out late spring???

My husband booked the Royal suite on our last cruise for our Anniversary.The perks you get are the same as if you book a suite.With the only difference being is some is meant to meet you at the port on boarding day. That didn't happen to us at all.We did get a welcome bottle of wine .But we had workmen working in our bathroom for 3 days as the the spa didn't work.We had workmen working on the piano as it didn't work. No one said sorry for any inconvenience. So to answer your question is the Royal suite worth it. For us it was a big fat no and we wouldn't waste our money again.

Edited July 15, 2015 by Jasp 0401

[A&L_Ont]

I have booked a Royal Suite on the Legend for the end of this year. Do u get any other perks than the standard that all suites get. Also any news yet on the new suite perks which were coming out late spring???

 

The new perks announcement was pushed back to "later" this year.

[LilBlackDress]

The new perks announcement was pushed back to "later" this year.

 

Was there an announcement that they got pushed back? I have been looking and all I have seen is speculation, nothing "official" from RCI.

[jessrosa]

My husband booked the Royal suite on our last cruise for our Anniversary.The perks you get are the same as if you book a suite.With the only difference being is some is meant to meet you at the port on boarding day. That didn't happen to us at all.We did get a welcome bottle of wine .But we had workmen working in our bathroom for 3 days as the the spa didn't work.We had workmen working on the piano as it didn't work. No one said sorry for any inconvenience. So to answer your question is the Royal suite worth it. For us it was a big fat no and we wouldn't waste our money again.

 

 

The spa and the piano seem to be common problems.

[A&L_Ont]

I have booked a Royal Suite on the Legend for the end of this year. Do u get any other perks than the standard that all suites get. Also any news yet on the new suite perks which were coming out late spring???

 

Was there an announcement that they got pushed back? I have been looking and all I have seen is speculation, nothing "official" from RCI.

 

No official announcement that I read. Only the word of the CC posters. However, a spring rollout is well past and we are almost half way through summer.

 

We have 6 cruises booked in suites so we are waiting for the news as well.

[A&L_Ont]

OP, we stayed on the RS on Allure a few years ago. It was nice, but way too much space for the 2 of us. The piano worked, and the hot tub did too.

[marci22]

My husband booked the Royal suite on our last cruise for our Anniversary.The perks you get are the same as if you book a suite.With the only difference being is some is meant to meet you at the port on boarding day. That didn't happen to us at all.We did get a welcome bottle of wine .But we had workmen working in our bathroom for 3 days as the the spa didn't work.We had workmen working on the piano as it didn't work. No one said sorry for any inconvenience. So to answer your question is the Royal suite worth it. For us it was a big fat no and we wouldn't waste our money again.

 

That's unfortunate. For the price you are paying, everything should work!

[George C]

Another couple invited us for drinks in a Royal suite, very elegant, would book one if it was in our budget

[PSCruiser]

That's a decision that only the individual can make.

My math is: one cruise in the RS, vs. 5 cruises in a balcony.

Easy decision for me, I'll cruise 5 times.

[Paul65]

That's a decision that only the individual can make.

My math is: one cruise in the RS, vs. 5 cruises in a balcony.

Easy decision for me, I'll cruise 5 times.

 

It's not always that big of a gap, though. I was shopping cruises one time and saw a sailing where the Royal Suite was still available close to sailing time, and it was just over $5K for two people (they had released it for booking online with as few as two). That's still a little more than double what a standard balcony would have been, but I would be tempted to splurge at that price. :cool:

[ltjn]

To be fair, the cost is relative to the size of the room, balcony, service provided to the short term occupants, and the reason for that special need for that cruise. Only you can decide if the cost is appropriate.

 

My DW and I have stayed in many a suite, which were booked for comfort and provided services. We stayed in the Princess Sapphire B750 Grand Suite, approximately 1329 sq feet plus 435 sq ft balcony. The service and benefits were outstanding, before Princess changed suite amenities in June 2012. Today, no justification for me to rent again, any suite would be fine.

 

Temporarily rented the Penthouse 6148 on the Celebrity Infinity, stateroom 1432 sq ft, and balcony 1098 sq ft. Now that was a suite, Celebrity knows how to do suites. Just a little rant, I sure hope Michael Bayley upgrades Royal's suite service some day. Royal is surely loosing ground in the suite category, but still beats Carnival :D.

 

We have not stayed in any Royal Suite on Royal. Once, my parent did enjoy the Royal Suite. When we compared notes about our experiences in suites. They were not meet at check in and not personally delivered to their suite. They were directed to go to the Concierge Lounge. In their room they received a welcome aboard bottle of wine. They were both impressed with the room layout, balcony and amenities. They were given personal attention from the concierge at all times of the day. To them that was very important.

 

When compared to our Owner Suite, we enjoyed the way the room and balcony were set up. We also received a bottle of wine and similar amenities. Our concierge was outstanding. Differences between Royal Suite and Owner Suite, Royal suite had a deck whirlpool (LOL), outstanding bathroom, bedroom and suite attendant. In my opinion overall, I would keep staying in an Owners Suite.

 

Additionally, I have no desire to try Norwegian or Royal's Quantum Class ships.

 

If it is a very special occasion that you will remember for years go for it.

[Retired LEO]

It's not always that big of a gap, though. I was shopping cruises one time and saw a sailing where the Royal Suite was still available close to sailing time, and it was just over $5K for two people (they had released it for booking online with as few as two). That's still a little more than double what a standard balcony would have been, but I would be tempted to splurge at that price. :cool:

 

The Royal Suite is always available online for two.

[Paul65]

The Royal Suite is always available online for two.

 

Okay. Didn't know that. It doesn't usually show up, when I'm looking at cruises, but that may just be because it's already booked. :cool: Anyway, I did see it once available for just $5K on a 7-night cruise.

[foxgoodrich]

Okay. Didn't know that. It doesn't usually show up, when I'm looking at cruises, but that may just be because it's already booked. :cool: Anyway, I did see it once available for just $5K on a 7-night cruise.

 

 

It's the Royal FAMILY Suite that is only sometimes available for booking online. The RFS is a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom suite that will sleep as many as 8, so normally 5 or more are required for booking and you can't book online. You have to call RC or use a travel agent to book the RFS.

 

Occasionally, they do drop the minimum occupancy if they haven't sold the RFS. If that happens, it'll show up online as available for 2 or more. The RFS is also not as expensive as the RS - seems like the pp charge for persons 1&2 is more like what they charge for a Grand Suite.

 

Enjoy your RS!!:)

Judy

Edited July 15, 2015 by foxgoodrich

[Rdytogo2]

We don't spend a lot of time in our room so we rather cruise more and not spend all that $$$ on a suite.

 

How does this statement answer the question?

 

 

And the Royal Suite can be a wonderful experience, depending on the ship, size of the cabin and how attentive the Concierge is to helping you.

 

Extra perks can include being escorted on to ship and to the cabin early. A chilled bottle of champagne. A separate bedroom, a large bathroom, a wet bar, nice size dining table and 4 chairs, etc. And that special attention from the concierge (most times, but not always).

Edited July 15, 2015 by Rdytogo2

[chfenton]

We recently had the royal loft suite on Oasis and for us it was worth it. The fact that it gave the kids their own bedroom as opposed to a couch was big. Also for us the little extras in the room were nice--we could host a party on our deck, enjoy the hot tub whenever we wanted, full size dining table etc... Also being one of the top guests, we did get a few extras. Personal escort from the moment we entered port everglades until we were in our stateroom, choice of cabanas at Labedee, I'm pretty sure we could eat at whatever time we wanted in any restaurant, etc...I would do it again in heartbeat. But, if those things aren't important to you or you don't think you would utilize them then the perks with a "regular" suite might be more than enough.

[SonicShip]

 

The Royal Suite on the Independence Of The Seas

[Rdytogo2]

Was there an announcement that they got pushed back? I have been looking and all I have seen is speculation, nothing "official" from RCI.

 

Perhaps they need more time to determine how many perks will be eliminated and which ones will be reduced.

 

Like the enormous amount they must have saved when they eliminated the chocolates on the pillows each night.

[jm485]

That's a decision that only the individual can make.

My math is: one cruise in the RS, vs. 5 cruises in a balcony.

Easy decision for me, I'll cruise 5 times.

 

Lucky for you that you can take 5 vacations instead of one :)

 

Given our limited amount of vacation time, the math is more like this:

 

One vacation in a smaller room with a smaller balcony vs. one vacation in a larger room with a larger balcony.

 

As long as it's in our budget, we're happy to have more space, especially more private outdoor space.

[jules815]

Lucky for you that you can take 5 vacations instead of one :)

 

Given our limited amount of vacation time, the math is more like this:

 

One vacation in a smaller room with a smaller balcony vs. one vacation in a larger room with a larger balcony.

 

As long as it's in our budget, we're happy to have more space, especially more private outdoor space.

 

Yes! We both still work full time, and my husband can only fit in one vacation each year, although last year I did convince him to take 2 weeks. :) We're also empty nesters who no longer pay for 2 rooms like we did when our daughters were teens still cruising with us. And it helps that we're now able to cruise when school is in session and rates are lower. We actually do spend quite a bit of time in our room and enjoying the balcony.

 

Someday when we're retired and God willing able to do 5 cruises a year, I doubt it will be in a suite, but for now we'll enjoy!